Staffordshire-based Goodwin International Ltd manufactures components for a wide range of demanding sectors, including nuclear, defence, oil and gas, power generation, aerospace and renewable energy.

From large primary-circuit reactor components 4m high and 5.5m in diameter to machined and welded assemblies weighing up to 100,000kg, the company can produce a multitude of large high-specification components at its 38,000m² ‘state of the art’ manufacturing facility in Stoke-on-Trent.

At the other end of the scale, the company produces small speciality items such as non-return valves with a diameter of 105mm and weighing just 3kg.

Working on a 24/7 three-shift pattern, Goodwin’s 300-strong workforce has access to high-precision CNC machines worth more than £30 million.

The ISO 9001-accredited company’s impressive plant list includes advanced large-capacity CNC milling and turning capabilities, as well as the latest multi-axis machining centres.

Its continuous-improvement system is used to constantly monitor all processes to ensure that maximum efficiency gains are achieved and to help guarantee the delivery of quality in all aspects of the business.

An extensive range of advanced quality control equipment is therefore used for functions such as material verification, dimensional measurement and component performance confirmation.

All production and inspection processes are managed through a comprehensive library of procedures dictating the use of accurate inspection and testing processes.

Advanced portable CMMs

As a result of the huge size and the demanding dimensional tolerances of many of its manufactured components, the company makes use of one of the largest-capacity co-ordinate measuring machines in the UK — a gantry CMM with the ability to measure components up to 5 x 3 x 2m.

However, given the problems associated with transporting large heavy workpieces to this static CMM, the company also uses a range of advanced portable CMMs — supplied by Rugby-based Faro Technologies UK Ltd (www.faro.com) — with both tactile measurement and scanning capabilities to perform regular in-process checks.

A growing order book and the increasing need for the scanning and dimensional inspection of large components to compare to CAD models recently prompted Goodwin to purchase a 4m version of Faro’s recently launched QuantumM FaroArm, which is used in combination with a FAROBlu Laser Line Probe HD (high definition).

Mark Woolmer, Goodwin’s quality control manager, said: “Given the nature of the challenging sectors that we serve, we can demonstrate full traceability of our materials and processes — and provide detailed quality reports that are tailored to individual clients and their projects.

“To ensure that we meet the requirements stipulated to us for each project, meticulous inspection routines are undertaken throughout all stages of manufacture.

“Although we make use of a wide range of advanced inspection and testing equipment, our growing collection of portable Faro CMMs is particularly useful for carrying out high-precision in-process dimensional inspection routines.

“Given the enormous size of many of the components that we produce, it helps that our Faro equipment has an advanced non-contact laser measuring capability and can be used to carry out precise in-depth inspection of the largest of our components.

“As our portable Faro CMMs are used for in-process inspection on our shopfloor, it helps that they are extremely robust and can make the required accurate dimensional checks quickly.

“This speed of use enables the work that has been carried out up to that time to be quickly verified and subsequent manufacturing processes to be immediately commenced.

“Now installed and fully operational, our new Faro QuantumM ScanArm is making an excellent contribution to our crucial inspection operations.

“Whereas in the past we needed to make several scanning passes to capture all of the required data related to a large component, the QuantumM can complete the same scanning routines in just one or two passes.

“In fact, its speed and ease of use mean that, without compromising on accuracy, we have cut our scanning inspection times in half.”

Ideal for companies that want to maximise their manufacturing productivity, reduce scrap levels and improve their quality control functions, the QuantumM FaroArm is an advanced portable co-ordinate measuring machine that meets the rigorous ISO 10360-12:2016 measurement standard, while the accuracy specifications for the complete Quantum FaroArm product line with FAROBlu are certified according to ISO 10360-8 for non-contact CMMs.

Market-leading reliability

It has a robust design that can withstand the harshest shopfloor environments and deliver market-leading reliability and portability, along with plug-and-play 3-D laser scanning integration with optically superior FAROBlu technology.

The use of this next generation of blue laser technology delivers unparalleled non-contact measurement capabilities, providing the highest-fidelity point cloud data at high speed.

It allows operators to seamlessly scan across diverse surface materials regardless of contrast, reflectivity or part complexity, without any special coatings or target placement.

The QuantumM is easy to manoeuvre and is always ready to use, as it requires no warm-up time.

This improves the productivity of users’ inspection, design and manufacturing processes by enabling operators to work longer and more comfortably.

It can be used anywhere on the factory floor with industrial grade wireless connectivity and is powered by batteries that negate the need for external power.